He held onto her like that, seemingly content to brace her against his front door and carry all her weight.

  “I’ve got to be heavy,” she murmured against his neck.

  “Hardly.” But he finally slid her down his body, slowly, capturing her mouth in a searing kiss as he did so. “Sorry. That wasn’t quite the slow, romantic seduction I had in mind.”

  She grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Forget slow and romantic. I wanted you.”

  “And I wanted you. Still do.” He swept her in his arms and carried her down the hall to his bedroom, kicking the partially closed door open.

  He nudged the light on with his elbow. A very masculine room with dark wood furniture and a king-size bed filled the room. But what really caught her eye was the decor.

  “Oh, it’s a jungle theme! I love it!”

  Animal prints adorned the dusky walls. Everything from elephants to giraffes to tigers. Even the gently waving ceiling fan blades were palms. Ceiling-high palm trees towered over the bed, the fan blowing them as if a soft breeze sailed through the room. She half expected to hear the sound of screeching monkeys or the roar of a lion any second.

  He set her on her feet. “Went on safari several years back. Fell in love with Africa. The animals there are incredible, the people even more so.”

  “I can’t even imagine an adventure like that. It must have been amazing.”

  “It was. I went with a group of vets on a care mission. Three months. It was a remarkable experience.”

  “I’d love to do that someday.”

  He grinned. “You can. You’re graduating next month, and soon you’ll be setting up your own practice. You can do anything you want.”

  She pulled her arms around herself. “I can’t even fathom a life like that.”

  “The world is opening up for you, Abby,” he said, coming up behind her and threading his arms around her waist. His breath ruffled her hair as he spoke. “Anything you can envision you can have.”

  It all seemed unreal and out of reach. “One day at a time.” It was hard to believe she’d gotten this far.

  Or that she was in Seth’s bedroom, for that matter.

  He turned her around to face him. “You can do anything, be anything you want to be. You have the talent and the drive.”

  “You have such faith in me.”

  He shrugged. “I just know what you’re capable of.”

  She pressed her palm against his cheek, loving the rough texture of his beard stubble. “Thank you. That means more to me than I could ever explain.” She stood on her tiptoes and grasped his neck, pulling his head to hers for a kiss.

  The first flutter of his lips against hers always made her suck in a breath. It was so painfully tender, just so damn perfect it made her belly clench in anticipation. No one had ever kissed her like this, had made her gasp for breath with just a brush of lips against lips.

  Not even Chad. Especially not Chad. She’d been so dumb.

  And she was never going to be that dumb again. Her eyes were wide open this time.

  Figuratively speaking, anyway, since right now her eyes were closed, her palms floating down Seth’s chest and resting on his pecs. His heart beat a strong and steady rhythm against her hand as he thoroughly kissed her. She melted like butter against him, leaning into his hard, sturdy body.

  He reached behind her and unzipped her dress. It fell to the floor, the sensual slide of silk down her body an unbearable torture of her senses. Every one of her nerve endings, every sense was alive and awake, anticipating his touch. She could almost imagine herself in the jungle with him, surrounded by animals and trees. They’d be in a tent, and he’d undress her, lingering over every inch of her skin like he was doing right now.

  He kissed her shoulder as he pulled down the strap of her bra. The sensation of fabric along her skin made her shiver with anticipation.

  “Strawberries. You smell like strawberries,” he murmured.

  She smiled and kept her eyes closed, focusing on the touch of his lips along her neck, her jaw, her mouth, where he lingered, brushing his lips back and forth across hers.

  The man liked to kiss. And she loved that he took the time to explore her mouth, delving inside with his tongue, stroking her slowly, tenderly, with the same gentle strokes that he used to caress her body.

  That Seth could fuck her with a wild rush of passion or make their joining an achingly slow journey was a testament to his skill as a lover. He swept her into his arms and laid her on the bed, then stood next to it while he undressed. She turned on her side and watched the slow unveiling of his well-muscled flesh, eager for him to touch her again. When he slid his jeans off, his cock sprang up, and she smiled, reaching for it.

  “Let me suck it.” She grabbed her lip between her teeth, waiting. He made her bold, made her ask out loud for things she’d only fantasized about before. Would he accept?

  He dropped his lids halfway down in that way she found oh so sexy, then crawled onto the bed, kneeling beside her. Taking his shaft in his hand, he stroked it for her. God, that made her pussy clench, warm cream oozing from her cunt. She reached between her legs.

  Just like her fantasies.

  “Oh yeah,” he said, approaching her head. “Touch your pussy for me, baby. I like to watch.”

  She wanted to make it good for him, to show him how she did it when she was alone in the dark. Planting her feet flat on the bed, she rubbed her pussy, mesmerized by the way he touched himself. He squeezed the head, then fisted the shaft, stroking leisurely at first.

  “I’m hungry,” she said, affecting a pout. “Feed me.”

  “Christ, Abby.” He scooted toward her and leaned over, sliding his cock between her lips. She took him greedily into her mouth, pressing the heel of her hand against her clit.

  Sucking him while masturbating was a heady experience. Her clit swelled, her pussy throbbing. She slid a finger inside her cunt. It gripped her, pulsing around the digit.

  Seth fucked her mouth and she lifted her hips, mimicking his movements.

  “That’s so fucking hot,” he said. He alternated watching her face and the movements of her hand. She was already close to another orgasm. Bringing herself there with her own hand had always been easy. Frankly, she was amazed she could do it in front of someone. But for some reason it was easy with Seth. He made it so natural for her to show him what pleased her. Because he was more focused on her pleasure than his own.

  “Make yourself come for me, Abby. Show me.”

  He pulled his cock back, then thrust forward, holding the back of her head so he was feeding her. She plunged two fingers into her cunt and used her other hand now to pluck at her clit.

  She was close now, moaning against his shaft.

  “Let go, baby,” he whispered. “Come on. Do it for me.”

  She did. Seth pulled his cock away from her mouth just as she let out a cry of triumph. A shattering climax sent waves of ecstasy spiraling through her. Seth bent down and drank in her cry with his lips, plunging his tongue inside her mouth.

  She was still in the throes of her orgasm when he rolled on top of her and plunged his cock inside her.

  Oh, it was heaven, feeling her pussy surround him, contracting with the aftereffects of her orgasm. He held tight to her, gripping her ass as she rode out pulses of sensation that never seemed to stop.

  She wrapped her legs around him, arching upward, holding onto him, kissing him.

  Loving him.

  The revelation made her eyes widen. She stared into his eyes, so open and filled with his own emotion as he made love to her.

  Then she squeezed her eyes shut and enveloped Seth in her embrace, feeling him shudder and shake against her as he came. He held her so tight when he climaxed, as if he were crawling inside her to become one with her.

  God, she loved that about him.

  No.

  She couldn’t, wouldn’t think about love.

  Not now.

  Not ever.

  She was just getting her life together, just beginning to explore her freedom. This was just sex. Incredible, mind-blowing sex. And she was confusing orgasms with emotion.

  Wasn’t she?

  Or was it something altogether different? Was it the fact that he made her feel good about herself, that he took her places she’d never been before, both physically and emotionally? That he genuinely cared about her?

  No. No, no, no. She wasn’t ready for this. She had a new life to start. New adventures to have.

  How could she be falling in love?

  eleven

  Abby had a date with mike tonight.

  Convinced that she was absolutely, positively mistaken about her emotional reaction to Seth last night, she’d accepted Mike’s offer when he’d called this morning.

  At first she was going to turn him down. She had papers to finish and last-minute things to do for school. She had to figure out what to do about her career. And after the wild weekend with both men, the last thing she wanted was more turmoil. Some space to think would have been nice.

  But the niggling doubts about Seth had kept her up all night.

  Seth had wanted her to spend the night. To sleep in his bed.

  God, she’d wanted to. Wanted to nestle against him and fall asleep wrapped up in the comfort of his arms. But she’d said no, that she had things to do today.

  And he’d been great about it. Said he understood. Took her home, gave her a kiss good night that curled her toes and made her wet all over again. She’d almost invited him in and asked him to stay with her.

  She didn’t want to let him go.

  Goddammit.

  But she had. And then hadn’t slept all night because his scent had lingered on her, his touch and kiss a memory so vivid she’d ached all night for him.

  Tonight she’d figure out if she felt the same way about Mike.

  She knew what the problem was. Her sexual drought had lingered so long it was like a first rain in the desert; she was simply making up for lost time. Having the one-on-one with Seth last night had been spectacular, and she’d confused emotion for really great sex.

  She’d wager tonight would be the same way.

  Mike told her they were going to the casino in town. She was excited about that since she could never afford to go there on her own and had never been. She wore a black short skirt and a slinky silver halter top that she’d borrowed from Blair a few weeks ago. She’d pulled her hair up and slipped on some fake crystal earrings. Even wore her stiletto heels again.

  She was dressed to kill. Or rather, to fuck.

  Tingling with anticipation, she hurried to the door when Mike rang the bell. He arched a brow and whistled as he stepped in.

  “Are you sure we even want to go out tonight?” he asked, eyeing every inch of her.

  She laughed and twirled for him, giddy with excitement. “You like?”

  He nodded. “Hell yeah. You look hot.”

  “Thanks.” He looked pretty damn hot himself in black slacks that were tailored to fit his fine ass and a simple white shirt that hugged his body.

  Whatever scent he wore, whether it was cologne or just him, sailed into her senses like a shot to her pheromones. It screamed hot and sexy, which didn’t surprise her in the least.

  “You ready?”

  Oh yeah. She was ready. Her body was primed to take off like a rocket.

  The casino crowd was light since it was a Monday, so they wandered, stopping at tables here and there. She learned about craps and roulette, even played a few hands of blackjack, which she quickly discovered was not her game at all. The most fun she had was playing the slots because she could stay there the longest without losing all her money.

  Though Mike was very generous, she refused to toss money down the drain gambling. That’s why she liked playing the quarter slots. He was involved at the craps table for awhile and seemed to be amassing quite a bit of chips, so she found a quarter slot machine and dumped in a twenty. And she was winning, which amused her enough that she continued to play.

  “Having fun?”

  She whirled around, thinking it was Mike, and grinned. “As a matter of fact—”

  It wasn’t Mike. Her smile froze, then died as she looked into the dark gaze of her ex-husband, Chad.

  Her heart slammed against her ribs, her pulse skittering along her nerve endings. A wash of memories, all unpleasant, rushed back to her, and suddenly she was the mousy housewife again. Tall, dark, handsome Chad, the boy of her dreams. Yeah, right. The worst mistake she’d ever made. All the excitement and fun she’d been having dissolved in an instant. Talk about a buzz kill. “What are you doing here?”

  He leaned against the machine she was playing and picked at his cuticle, a habit that always annoyed her. “I’m gambling, darlin’. And you?”

  I’m scrubbing the floors, jackass. What do you think I’m doing? “I’m on a date.”

  “Seems as if your date has deserted you, since I don’t see him around.”

  Stay calm, Abby. He’s trying to irritate you on purpose. She offered a smug smile. “Actually, I know exactly where he is.”

  “Which is?”

  “Craps table. Right over there.” She inclined her head to the outer table, where Mike was standing at the end. Mike looked up at the same instant she gazed in his direction. He winked at her, then threw the dice.

  “Ah. Nottingham.”

  “Yes.”

  “I saw you the other night at the club with him.”

  Chad was at the club the other night? She hadn’t seen him, but then again, after the first five minutes she’d been so wrapped up in Mike and Seth she wouldn’t have noticed him if he’d stepped right on her toes. “Really.”

  “Yeah. You were with Nottingham. And Seth Jacobs.”

  Ah. So he had seen her. She wondered how much he’d seen. A small flame of triumph began to flicker inside her. “So I was. Funny, I didn’t see you there. Then again, I was rather busy with my dates.”

  Chad’s eyes widened. “You were there with both of them?”

  She punched the button on her machine, ignoring him. “As a matter of fact, I was.”

  “Kind of slutty, isn’t it, Abby?”

  She didn’t even look away from the blinking lights on the slot machine. “Kind of like the pot calling the kettle black, isn’t it Chad?”

  “You used to be such a good girl.”

  The disgust in his voice was evident, but he no longer had the power to hurt her. She finally tore her gaze away from the screen in front of her and arched a brow.

  “Oh, I’m still a good girl, Chad. A very good girl.”

  “I can’t believe how you’ve changed from the sweet girl I married.”

  She snorted. “Please. And where did that get me, Chad? I was faithful, I stayed home every night waiting for you. Where were you? Out with another woman, fucking her instead of me. Well, now I’m fucking other men instead of you.” She pressed the cash out button, waited for her ticket to print, and snatched it out of the machine. “And let me tell you, I’m having the best damn sex of my life right now. All those wasted years on a minute man like you. If only I’d known what I was missing.”

  She waited for a comeback, but he only stared at her, his face turning red. Then she realized he was speechless. For the first time in her life, she’d rendered the bastard unable to speak. Time to zero in for the kill. “All those girls you fucked while we were married—what did they see in you, anyway?”

  He looked like he wanted to strangle her. Triumphant, she waved her ticket in front of his face. “I’d love to stay and chat with you longer, Chad, but I have a life now that doesn’t include you.”

  She walked away without looking back, sidling up to Mike and leaning against his shoulder. He threaded an arm around her waist and planted a scorching kiss on her lips.

  She hoped Chad was still watching.

  “I saw you talking to your ex over there,” Mike said after she broke the kiss. He gathered his chips and stepped away from the table, leading her to the cashier’s booth.

  “He’s a prick,” she said, handing the cashier her ticket.

  “Give you any trouble?” Mike asked, pocketing the sizable amount of bills the cashier handed him.

  Abby handed him back the money she’d won in the slot machine, despite Mike’s attempts to prevent her from doing so. “No trouble at all. I handled him just fine.”

  “I figured you could.” He slipped his arm around her and walked outside. He’d parked his Navigator at the end of the parking lot. Isolated, within a semicircle of trees surrounding them, and it was dark. The second they reached his car he whirled her around and pushed her against the door, his mouth descending on hers.

  Her breath left her body as he plunged his tongue inside, devouring her lips in a hungry kiss. She reached for his arms, feeling the heat, the lean muscle through his shirt. He parted her legs with his knee, insinuating his thigh between them.

  Her body responded with an instantaneous explosion, her pussy moistening, her nipples tightening as they brushed against his chest. She couldn’t help her reaction to him. He was damned overpowering, and she was helpless to do anything but let her body answer.

  Did she want him? Hell yes. But while his hands were roaming her body, caressing her breasts, pinching her nipples, making her crazed with desire for him, part of her recognized what she was experiencing was a pure and simple physical reaction to him.

  She lusted for Mike. Oh, God did she ever lust for him.

  But that’s all she felt. That’s all she would ever feel. On some elemental level she realized that Mike Nottingham was way, way too much for her. That while he was gorgeous and desirable and exciting as hell, he wasn’t the kind of man she could ever have a relationship with.

  Not the kind of relationship she craved.

  Not the kind of relationship she wanted.

  Like the kind she wanted with Seth.

  Oh, God.

  Seth.

  Mike moved his mouth from her lips to her neck, licking her pulse point and making goose bumps pop out all over her skin. He inserted his hand and slipped down the front of her skirt, cupping her pussy. She damn near came.